Thesis: The philosophers Hobbes and Locke had similarities and differences in their ideas.
I. Similarities
A. Locke and Hobbes
1. Ideas
a. About nature and purpose of government
2. Power
a. Must be sovereign power
1) No power over 3 natural rights of subjects without their approval
a) This consent must come from a representative assembly of men of property
II. Differences
A. Methods
1.Hobbes
a. Strictly logic methods of scientist to analyze political behavior
2. Locke
a. Based political analysis on general theory of knowledge
b. At birth person’s mind is “tabula rasa” (clean slate
1 Nothing is inborn
2 As growth proceeds they observe and experience world
3 Once gathered data, their minds begin to work on data
c. Reason
1) Begin to perceive patterns
2) Discover order and harmony that permeate universe
3) Everyone must reach the same conclusions about nature and structure regardless of individual experiences
4) Political thought
a) Put views of English gentry and other absolutists into systematic form
B. Writings
I. Hobbes
a. “Leviathan”
1) Premises about human nature
2) Almost scientific reasoning
3) Deduced conclusions about political form
4) State of Nature
a) Precedes existence of society
b) State of war where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
c) Only ways to restrain is to erect absolute and sovereign power that will keep peace
d) Alternative is anarchy of state of nature, which is not ideal
e) Moment of submission is moment of birth of society
5) Transition from nature to society
a) Done by a contract
1) Accepted by those who want to end chaos
2) Binding only on ruled
3) Submit to sovereign
a) Not a party to contract and not limited
6) Influential
a. Power of logic and endorsement to absolutism
7) Approach
b. Made hostility
c. Successors thought he was godless, immoral, cynical, unfeeling
c. Dislike of his message that made many hesitant to accept ideas
2. Locke
a. “ The Second Treatise of Civil Government”
1) Influenced by Hobbes
2) Locke took his notions that a state of nature is a state of war and that only a contract among people can end anarchy that comes before establishment of civil society
3) Conclusions were decidedly different
C. Government
1.Locke
a. Of Civil Government
1) Principles of theory of knowledge applying reason to politics one can prove inalienability of life, liberty, and property
a) Acted as voice of gentry
(1) Only those with tangible stake in country can control destiny
(2) Stake must be protected as surely as their life and liberty
2) Permitted overthrow of sovereign power if infringed on subject’s rights
3) Defend individual against state
a) Prime concern
b. Emphasis on property served elite better than mass of society
2. Hobbes
a. Of Civil Government
1) Allowed a person to protect only their life (518-520)
I. Similarities
A. Locke and Hobbes
1. Ideas
a. About nature and purpose of government
2. Power
a. Must be sovereign power
1) No power over 3 natural rights of subjects without their approval
a) This consent must come from a representative assembly of men of property
II. Differences
A. Methods
1.Hobbes
a. Strictly logic methods of scientist to analyze political behavior
2. Locke
a. Based political analysis on general theory of knowledge
b. At birth person’s mind is “tabula rasa” (clean slate
1 Nothing is inborn
2 As growth proceeds they observe and experience world
3 Once gathered data, their minds begin to work on data
c. Reason
1) Begin to perceive patterns
2) Discover order and harmony that permeate universe
3) Everyone must reach the same conclusions about nature and structure regardless of individual experiences
4) Political thought
a) Put views of English gentry and other absolutists into systematic form
B. Writings
I. Hobbes
a. “Leviathan”
1) Premises about human nature
2) Almost scientific reasoning
3) Deduced conclusions about political form
4) State of Nature
a) Precedes existence of society
b) State of war where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”
c) Only ways to restrain is to erect absolute and sovereign power that will keep peace
d) Alternative is anarchy of state of nature, which is not ideal
e) Moment of submission is moment of birth of society
5) Transition from nature to society
a) Done by a contract
1) Accepted by those who want to end chaos
2) Binding only on ruled
3) Submit to sovereign
a) Not a party to contract and not limited
6) Influential
a. Power of logic and endorsement to absolutism
7) Approach
b. Made hostility
c. Successors thought he was godless, immoral, cynical, unfeeling
c. Dislike of his message that made many hesitant to accept ideas
2. Locke
a. “ The Second Treatise of Civil Government”
1) Influenced by Hobbes
2) Locke took his notions that a state of nature is a state of war and that only a contract among people can end anarchy that comes before establishment of civil society
3) Conclusions were decidedly different
C. Government
1.Locke
a. Of Civil Government
1) Principles of theory of knowledge applying reason to politics one can prove inalienability of life, liberty, and property
a) Acted as voice of gentry
(1) Only those with tangible stake in country can control destiny
(2) Stake must be protected as surely as their life and liberty
2) Permitted overthrow of sovereign power if infringed on subject’s rights
3) Defend individual against state
a) Prime concern
b. Emphasis on property served elite better than mass of society
2. Hobbes
a. Of Civil Government
1) Allowed a person to protect only their life (518-520)